Forest Preserves

Thousands of acres of forest preserves in the immediate area provide attractions including:

Bird Refuges

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Horseback and Bike Trails

Natural Wildlife Areas

Picnicking

Mallard Lake Forest Preserve

The south side of Hanover Park is surrounded by a large portion of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District. To the east of County Farm Road, Mallard Lake Forest Preserve offers fishing piers, a reservable shelter, a dog exercise area, parking, and a bike path. There are great wildlife observation opportunities at Mallard Lake including meadowlarks, great-horned owls, red-tailed hawks, and kestrels.

Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve

Soon the Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve, which lies to the west of County Farm Road, will be connected to the Mallard Lake Forest Preserve via a bike path. Hawk Hollow is comprised of 1,166 largely-undeveloped acres. Hawk Hollow offers great views of the West Branch of the DuPage River Valley. The river meanders through Hawk Hollow from north to south. Hawk Hollow is home to 530 plant species including:

Wild bergamot

Prairie sunflowers

Wild geranium

White, bur, red, and black oak trees

Endangered / Threatened Species

Hawk Hollow is also home to 132 different animal species including several which are endangered or threatened such as: